good morning, america. and here comes the white stuff. the first winter blast of the season, heading for the east. with heavy snow, torrential rains all the way to ohio. sam is tracking the storm front, sure to bring massive delays on this busy travel day. courage in the flames. new details on what started that mansion fire. as the grandfather famous for playing santa, was just seconds from plucking his grandchild from the inferno. stopped in his tracks. and prince philip leaving the hospital after his serious heart scare. the 90-year-old joining the queen today, waving and smiling as he departs. and sticky fingers.

the photo op making news around the world when little cooper stuck his hands in president obama's mouth. today, we talk to the family about that kodak moment he'll never live down. a beautiful shot here in the pre-dawn in times square. good morning, everyone. so much to get to again. george and robin are off today. once again, i'm joined by elizabeth vargas. and i know, elizabeth, here in the city, and in the tristate area, that fire continues to resound what exactly happened in that mansion in connecticut. >> three children, two grandparents killed in that. firefighters needed counseling after working on that blaze. we'll get to more on that in a moment. of course, it's one week to go before the votes are cast in iowa. a brand-new poll is showing front-runners mitt romney and newt gingrich are almost tied

right now. >> down to the final minute. also, the biggest divorce payout in the history of hollywood. almost $500 million. big numbers behind mel gibson's breakup. first, let's get right to the developing stories around the country. and, sam, we're going to start with this storm front that's pushing through and threatening to make life nasty. >> it's a big storm, josh. good morning, josh, elizabeth, dan. good morning, everybody. here's what we're talking about. if 40 million people hit the air for this holiday season, and another 40 million people are on the road, at some point, everybody has to get home. this is what's waiting if you're traveling today. this is a massive storm system that has it all. it has powerful thunderstorms. it has rain. and a kick of snow. behind all of that, once you have the moisture, you have the gusty winds. this is where the storms are rolling today. in the carolinas, the first hub hit is raleigh, durham, carolina. it will get into northern new england later tonight. look at the areas.

the raleigh area. washington, d.c., philly, pittsburgh, new york, boston. all coming in with what will probably be delays from the rain itself. and the wind that kicks behind it. for many areas, this is the first snow. the first big snow. cleveland will get some. buffalo will get some. all the way toward burlington, vermont. pittsburgh has the double-whammy, starting with rain and going to snow, as well. a lot of delays. check with your air carriers even tomorrow morning. there's strong wind behind this storm. josh? elizabeth? let's welcome "gma weekend" anchor, dan harris, with the morning headlines. >> good morning, everybody. we're going to start in indiana where the search for a missing 9-year-old has ended in the worst possible way. aliahna lemmon was found three days after she vanished from the mobile home park in ft. wayne, indiana, where she lived. the family friend, mike plumadore was baby sitting while their mom had the flu.

police releasing few details, only to saying the body was found less than a mile away. in florida this morning, investigators trying to figure out what caused a medical helicopter to crash, killing a cardiac surgeon, a medical technician and a pilot. they were flying to pick up a heart for a transplant patient. crashes involving medical helicopters are on the rise, with more pilots flying in dangerous conditions. we have word out of london, that queen elizabeth's husband, prince philip, has been released from the hospital. let's get right to kelly cobiella on the story this morning. >> reporter: good morning, dan. prince philip was itching to get out of the hospital and rejoin his family, according to buckingham palace. and doctors gave the okay this morning. he appeared to be in great shape. he rolled down the window and waved to cameras as he was going to sandringham. he walked down the stairs at the hospital. no wheelchair.

no elevator. and then, thanked the doctors and nurses before he left. prince philip will stay with the queen at sandringham until february 6th, that's the schedule as usual. prince philip missed all of the christmas events at sandringham. but we're told he arrived in time for a post-christmas lunch with the royal family today. >> he looks good. tough guy. kelly, thank you. we have breaking news this morning. a former tv producer accused of murdering his wife in mexico, has waived extradition. the former "survivor" producer, bruce beresford-redman was accused of killing his wife in cancun last year. he's been in jail on a fugitive warrant. this morning, his lawyers says his client has waived extradition and is eager to clear his name at trial in mexico. finally, from the world of sports. one of the longest-standing records has a new owner this morning. he is the new orleans saints quarterback, drew brees.

with this touchdown right here -- that touchdown pass, against the falcons last night, set the all-time inful informal season passing record. brees has passed for 5,087 yards. and there's still one more game in the season. the previous record was held by dan marino for 27 years. we should say, by the way, the saints won last night. 27 years. i'm not a huge sports fan. but ever since i covered hurricane katrina, i root for the saints. >> if robin were here, she'd be doing the who dat. >> probably is right now as we speak. >> he's going to put that record, perhaps out of reach. thank you for that, dan. we want to turn now to this incredible story of courage and tragedy. we're learning more details about this, a massive fire that engulfed a coastal mansion in connecticut. investigators revealing the cause of the fire. and abc's linsey davis has the latest from the scene. good morning to you, linsey. >> reporter: good morning, josh. this pile of rubble behind me is all that remains of the house where five family members lost

their lives on christmas morning. and that blaze, reportedly started as much as an hour before anyone inside even realized it. and by the time they did, it was, of course, too late. the massive fire that turned this $1.7 million home from this, into this charred skeleton, reportedly was started by the embers of yule logs. investigators say madonna badger, a well-known ad executive, was wrapping gifts by the fireplace, until 3:00 in the morning, along with friend mike borcina. they put the embers in a bucket. it was those embers officials believe were blown around the house and started the blaze. around 5:00 a.m., 911 calls of a fire. and within a matter of minutes, the house was fully engulfed in flames. >> it's tremendously fast. the fire starts. and within a minute, it can engulf a whole room. >> reporter: the blaze killed

badger's 10-year-old daughter, lily, her 7-year-old twin girls, grace and sarah, and her parents, pauline and lomer johnson, seen here dressed as santa. badger and borcina, the contract doing renovations on the house, were the only two to survive. when they arrived and they knew there were kids still inside, why weren't they able to get in to the kids? >> it was a fall of flames. >> reporter: lomer fulfilled a life long dream of playing santa claus at saks fifth avenue, at the urging of his youngest granddaughter. he reportedly tried to grab his granddaughter and go out the window. but they were overcome with core ban monoxide poisons. he retired as the safety and security director in louisville, kentucky. and they moved to the area to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. this small memorial of flawer

and teddy bears have been set up outside of the house. a press conference will take today to give some sense of what went wrong here. josh? >> thank you, linsey. joining us is acting fire chief, chief conte. we hear about the embers that may have been at the root of this tragedy. want to show people the before and after photos and ask you about these embers. how hot do the embers have to be to cause the destruction that they caused? >> well, let me start by saying that the fire marshal, at this point in time, has not given us the cause of this fire, as of yet. i don't know where these embers started from. but we will find out early this morning, after we have our meeting, probably what the actual cause of the fire was.

at this point, no one has, from the office of the fire marshal, has relayed information to my staff or myself, as to the cause of the fire. >> chief conte, we hear about the grandfather here involved, who reports suggest, actually had one of his granddaughters almost to safety before they were both overcome. what can you tell us about all the heroism displayed in the moments this fire consumed the house? >> well, when the first arriving engine arrived on the scene, it was the shippan firehouse, was first due. they laddered the building. and they made entry to the third ford bedroom, as directed by ms. badger, as to where the children were. they pushed through two rooms. but they were unable to find the children. and the intense heat and flames pushed them back out. they tried a second time to get in. and again, they were pushed out.

the grandfather was found just outside the structure on a small, flat roof. and he was covered in debris. and inside the window, we found one of the children. so, it appears that the grandfather had one of the children with him. tried to exit the structure but was overcome and passed away. and the little one passed away just inside the window. >> chief conte, we saw that the house has now been reduced to rubble. to an average person, they might think why tear the house down before the investigation is complete. why was the house taken down? >> the house was taken down -- the technical end of the investigation for the fire marshal's office was concluded early yesterday morning. during the recovery efforts to retrieve the bodies, the house was so badly burned, that we had to span ladders across the floor

joists in order to distribute the way the firefighters who try and search the upper floors. once we had removed everyone, and once our investigation of the property was complete, we deemed the property unsafe. we didn't want more tragedy by a curious onlooker going in and have something happen to him. so, at that point, we didn't need the structure anymore. that's why it was taken down. >> chief conte, this tragedy has hit the entire town so hard. you've been on the job for almost four decades. how are members of your fire department holding up today? >> not very well. i have 70 firefighters that i ordered back today for counseling. they're big, burly guys. and to see them break down at the scene was too much to bare. we have psychologists coming in.

we have members of fdny to help us with the debriefing of these firefighters. >> our best to you. and we expect to learn more details this afternoon. chief conte, we appreciate your time this morning. >> thank you very much. shifting gears to politics. your voice, your vote. six days until iowa. and a brand-new poll overnight, showing the front-runners there, neck and neck right now. jon karl is tracking the latest on the race. good morning to you, jonathan. >> reporter: good morning, elizabeth. they took a short break for christmas. but now, the sprint is on. i count 25 separate campaign events today alone, as the candidates make the final push in iowa. fire up the campaign buses. it's the home stretch in iowa. michele bachmann, rick perry, and newt gingrich are all motoring across the state, starting today. just the 3 of them, with 17 campaign events today alone. as for mitt romney, he's making the case to iowa republicans

with a new television ad, portraying himself as a conservative businessman. >> i can make it simpler and smaller and smarter. >> reporter: romney starts the day off in new hampshire. but he'll be in iowa tonight. and is launching his own bus tour tomorrow. the latest national gallup poll, shows newt gingrich on top, but just barely ahead of romney. and in new hampshire, which will vote just one week after iowa, a new poll shows romney with a commanding lead. newt gingrich and ron paul, tied for second place. long shot rick santorum did a little pheasant hunting in adel, iowa, yesterday. and was the only one campaigning the day after christmas. he's picked up key support from christian conservatives in iowa and is looking for an upset. >> i think we're doing pretty good. >> reporter: over the christmas holiday, the candidates declared a truce, no negative advertising. that truce, officially broken. rick perry, the first to go on the attack. >> among them, they spent 63

years in congress, leaving us with debt, earmarks and bailouts. >> reporter: the only opponent perry's ad doesn't attack is mitt romney. like perry, has not served in washington. newt gingrich has hit romney hard over that health care bill he passed in massachusetts. but we learned late last night that five years ago gringrich wrote a memo braising romney's health care plan after it was passed. saying we agree entirely with governor romney. massachusetts leaders should be commended for coming up with a bipartisan plan on health care. in this stretch in iowa, the race is completely in flux. in fact, republican leaders in the state say they have never seen it this close and this much in question a week before the caucus. >> i believe the word was muddled. jon, thanks so much. and joining us from san diego's, republican national committee chair, mike previs. i want to talk about what jon was talking about, how muddled this race is a week out.

why hasn't one candidate managed to capture and keep public momentum? >> well, i mean, i don't know if i -- if i would get too uptight over that, elizabeth. the fact of the matter is, people around the country and especially in iowa, want to make sure their decision is sound. i think it's important we put up a candidate that's smart, and articula articulate, that can beat this president. what you're seeing is a lot of excitement on the republican side of the aisle. it's a horse race. there's no doubt about it. let's put it in perspective. we haven't had one, single primary yet. there's going to be 50 of them. this is going to be just the start. we're excited about this. and we're going to see where it goes. >> right. >> and we'll get there. and we'll have a nominee pretty quickly. >> right now, one of the leaders in the polls is newt gingrich. it's no secret that many of the republican congressmen that served with mr. gingrich does

not think he is fit to be president. do you think he is fit to be president? >> of course, i think he's fit to be president. obviously, we have a president in the white house that, you know, before he took office, two years earlier, was a state senator from illinois. how has that served our country? i mean, quite frankly, there's fewer people employed today than there were four years ago. and i just think that america's ready to put a person in the white house that can make a promise and keep a promise. i think that's where this election is going to go. it's going to be a referendum on barack obama. and i think people are ready to move on. >> and given the fact, however, that we have seen, as somebody put it, almost the flavor of the week when it comes to a republican front-runner, how concerned are you about a third party candidate? a donald trump, for example, jumping in the race at the last minute and siphoning off republican votes? >> i'm not that worried about that, elizabeth. i have to worry about the republican side of the aisle.

and quite frankly, i think the third-party candidates will make more votes away from barack obama than from our candidates. i'm not worried about that. i'm worried about making sure we put a good candidate on the ballot because 70% of americans across the country feel that we're on the wrong track. and i think that's really bad news for this president. and so, it's an opportunity for us to do our part on the republican side of the aisle and come through for the american people with a candidate that they can believe in and that we can put in the white house to help save this country. >> there have been whispers in the party that some haven't given up on a candidate, say for example, new jersey governor, chris christie or even jeb bush. what are the chances we might see one of those gentlemen jump into the race at the last minute? >> personally, i think it's pretty small. but the primary process is going to take some time. we've got some early states here in january. we have nevada coming up in february. actually, nevada's the only state that has a full slate of

delegates. and that doesn't come until february. then, there's going to be a break. and then, there's super tuesday, on march 6th. it's a race to a little over 1,100 delegates. it will take some time. but in the end, this is the better for our country. >> mr. previs, thanks so much for being here with us this morning. we'll see what happens a week from today in iowa. >> have a great week. >> thanks. you, too. now, it's time to check in with sam champion and the weather this morning. >> good morning, elizabeth, josh. we all have our eyes on this east coast storm. in the next 24 hours, everywhere on the eastern seaboard will be bunched with this storm. heavy rain, gusty winds and snow. and from virginia, will get the first kick of snow. northwest gets some powerful weather today.

no rain yet but it is moving at -- into town after morning commute. cloud cover right now over fairfax. 42 degrees in the district. frederick in gaithersburg 37 so areas of rain today which will be heavy at times afternoon and clearing out closer to dinner time drive home.r the coming up on "gma," the

search intensifies for baby ayla in maine. will a reward help? and a $500 million divorce will a reward help? and a $500 million divorce from mel gibson. thing. just putting jewels in teddy bears. this guy's wearing a wire the whole time. right? look at that! he's wearing a wire! [ laughs ] all right, let's do this. all right? before my wife changes her mind. go. [ male announcer ] your favorite movies right when you want them. watch unlimited tv episodes and movies instantly through your game console or other devices, all for only 8 bucks a month from netflix. no sequel for that guy. [ male announcer ] handcrafted toys... ♪ the softest bear on the web... a new bedtime story: added to cart. watching her play with the box instead: priceless. your mastercard makes sure you don't pay for unauthorized purchases, not online, not anywhere.

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police officer who died in a a moral willperson the church oft at nativity in burke. his funeral will be held tomorrow. died december 16 corresponding to a call at the key bridge. there has been a sharp increase been deadly police- area.ed shootings in our least 16 deadly tootings this year compared two last year. police others are increasingly becoming under attack and newschannel a la more on this story and a little bit. we will start with a look at the beltway. usualch lighter than nicely froming to silver spring. no problems on the 14th street arlington into the district. isthbound 95 at springfield because of an accident get to the interchange blocking

the two left lines and partially blocking the ramp to the outer loop. we see the leading edge of rain moving through charlottesville and parts of the shenandoah valley. into the metro the drive and to work this morning. 42 degrees in the district right now. the rain will be moderate to today and you'll be with it on the drive home. like it will come to an closer to dinner time. when the two more by clearing out. thank you for joining us, we at 7:56.ack this is an rc robotic claw. my high school science teacher made me what i am today. our science teacher helped us build it. ♪ now m m a geologist at chevron, and i get to help science teachers. it has four servo motors and a wireless microcontroller. over the last three years we've put nearly 100 million dollars into american education. that's thousands of kids learning to love science.

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♪ new day a nice crowd outside our times square studio this morning. getting ready to ring in the new year. you know, they're already starting to build the stage for the celebration. >> there you see it. the barriers and the scaffolding. and leading up to the ball drop. >> they're getting ready to ring in a new day and a new year, in a few short days. you know who else is probably looking forward to a new year? mel gibson. >> mel gibson. seriously. >> yeah. >> paying a rather big price, yeah, after his divorce, of nearly 30 years of marriage. how about $500 million? we're going inside one of the

costliest breakups in history. >> no prenup, i think, is what that means. >> yeah. and california being the state. so, elizabeth vargas in. robin and george, again, enjoy a day off. it is well-deserved, too. we have everything you need to know this morning to stash the cash in the new year. it's all about clipping the coupons. i used to keep my organized in little legal-sized envelopes. >> you were a coupon clipper. >> i was a coupon clipper. >> we'll see you at the all-stars. and again, the picture that maybe you've seen by now. but take another look. there's little cooper wagner, getting the mitt right up in the president's mouth. and his parents are standing by right now. and we're going to be talking to them live, via skype, about it all. we're going to switch gears and begin with new information in the search for missing maine toddler, ayla reynolds.

police say they are certain that she was taken from her home. the biggest reward in the state's history. and clamoring for little ayla's return. and bianna golodryga is here this morning. >> reporter: the search intensifies. a local attorney, along with businesses and individuals, are putting up $30,000 to help bring ayla back home safely. it's the largest reward ever in a missing person's case in maine's history. christmas came and went. and still, no sign of 20-month-old ayla reynolds. police said on monday they remain focused on finding her. >> we're confident that ayla did not walk out of the house by herself. we believe that someone was involved in taking her out of the house. >> reporter: police have been searching the waterville, maine, area, since ayla's father, justin dipietro reported her missing on december 17th. >> police have narrowed it down, to they believe to someone took

her from her residence. >> reporter: according to dipietro, she was last seen when he put her to bed on december 16th, in his home. ayla's mother had recently had concerns for her safety and had filed for full custody of the toddler. >> what are the bruises? he said, well, you know, her and my niece like to go down on the stairs. it could be from that. and i just -- i didn't believe it. >> reporter: dipietro said in a statement last week, i have no idea what happened to ayla or who is responsible. i will not make accusations or insinuations towards anyone until the police have been able to prove who's responsible. the community of waterville is banding together for ayla, offering a reward. the largest ever for a missing person's case in maine. >> we ask for her safe return. and we offer a $30,000 reward for the person or persons providing us with this

information. >> i want to know where she is. i want her home. i go praying to god that the next person who comes knocking on my door is going to tell me that my daughter is safe and she is fine. >> reporter: the police say tips and leads are still coming in. and the reward may help even more. another thing that could help, the crime-fighting show "america's most wanted" was in maine over the weekend. that often generates new leads. it's been more than a week. but they're not giving up hope. >> that reward, $30,000. biggest in the state's history. thank you, bianna. switching gears a bit now. we told you how people, so many people, are cashing in on their gold, as the price surges. now, the price of copper is skyrocketing, as well. and crime sprees involving the metal are on the rise. abc's dan harris has been tracking the very latest on that. this is an interesting twist. i didn't expect to see this. >> you don't see it with copper. this is interesting to me on a couple of levels. when copper gets expensive, it can provoke a nationwide crime

spree. second, it gives us a chance to see the incredibly stupid things that thieves will do to get their loot. why is this crook doing this? moments earlier, he got hurt, as you can see in this grainy video, when he fell off the roof while trying to commit his crime. >> subject on the second story of this elementary school, presumably to steal copper. >> reporter: that guy joins a rogue's gallery of other thieves, stealing copper from utility poles, churches, you name it, all over america. >> copper prices have been elevated for quite some time. that's run of the reasons that makes copper attractive to them. >> reporter: as the price for copper climbs to $3.50 a pound, about five-times what it was worth a decade ago, crooks are getting more brazen. watch as copper thieves strike in broad daylight at a power station in washington state. or these thieves that walk away with a tub full of cop from a

substation in new york. and this pair, rolling away a huge spool of cable from this storage yard. this scrap metal business in orlando was hit so often, he set up a surveillance system routed directly to his home. >> we watch the video on live feed. >> reporter: and check out what he saw, the crook hiding in the back of a truck, when he hears cops show up. look at the left side of the screen. he hides while officers walk by him several times. eventually, though, they find his hiding spot and bust him. here's the thing that really burn, though. while the thieves just pocket a few hundred dollars, the cost to repair the equipment can run into thousands or tens of thousands. in total, copper theft costs the american economy an estimated $1 billion a year. >> and you said, even copper pennies are now more valuable. >> yes. you don't have to steal those. >> you chuck them in the bowl or the drawer. >> scoop them up. off the floor of your car. >> thank you.

let's get it over now to sam champion. and again, sam, here we come. we were living on borrowed time. >> the snow? am i the only one who wonders where you roll up the giant spool of copper to cash it in? where do you go? i want some milk and orange juice. here's the giant spool of copper. >> i've been saving this copper for years. >> i rolled it up on this spool. dan, can you tell me -- >> next half hour, sam. keep it here. >> next half hour. >> news. >> where to cash in your giant spool of copper. i can't -- all right. here's the wettest cities. this is not a surprise for the folks who live here. cincinnati, binghamton, philadelphia, all more rain this past year than ever before. new york, your wettest summer. here comes more rain moving in overnight tonight. if you break this down in areas, this is during the day today. and this is overnight tonight. and that's how this rain moves

in. it's one to two inches of r here is the big area of low that will move into town today. there is widespread rain just on our doorstep. we will see the rain moved into town after the morning rush >> all that weather was brought to you by hertz. elizabeth? josh? >> dan just went to get that answer. >> you needed to know, sam. >> thank you. coming up, one of the biggest breakups in hollywood history. why divorce is costing mel gibson almost $500 million. what's better than gold ? free gold ! we call that hertz gold plus rewards. you earn free days, free weeks and more fast. that's a plus. upgrade your ride. that's a plus. rewards with no blackout dates so you can redeem anytime. and it's easy to redeem your points online.

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now, to the divorce settlement between mel gibson and his wife of 31 years, robyn moore. the nearly $451 million agreement, believed to be the biggest celebrity divorce payout in hollywood history. and lara spencer has much more on this expensive story. >> oh, yes. don't shed too many tears for mr. mel gibson. not in jeopardy of going broke. but his bank account is certainly a lot smaller this morning, mm, by about half. by divorce standards, the divorce settlement is a whopper. robyn and mel gibson were married for nearly 30 years.

during which time, the actor and director built up a net worth of $850 million. now, the former couple will reportedly split that down the middle, leaving them with each nearly a $500 million. according to "people" magazine, the couple had no prenup. >> marriage and prenups go together like peas and carrots in today's time. 30 years ago, prenups were never spoken of, let alone entered into. >> reporter: that catapults gibson to the top of a not-enviable heap. settlements between harrison ford and his ex-wife. steven spielberg, and amy irving. neil diamond and asha murphy. and michael jordan and his ex-wife, juanita. but it's less than what media mogul rupert murdoch to his ex, anna, in what is still the most expensive divorce in history. gibson had just filmed "mad max"

in 1980 when he careyed robmarr. it was during his contentious legal fight with his then-girlfriend that robyn released a statement in support of her ex. stating, he was never abusive. neither have commented publicly since the divorce was finalized. as for the nearly $1 billion gibson empire, a few hundred mill down may not break the bank. >> while robyn is walking away with a lot of money, ease the are big numbers. mel gibson is not going to starve. it just so happens that the numbers are so big because mel gibson was worth so much. >> and robyn's $425 million will grow. she is entitled to half of every film residual check mel gibson receives for the movies made during their marriage. we may never know if they have

to split the island in fiji that mel bought a few years ago. >> some details should remain private. thank you very much. coming up, we have a bo-fer for you, in "the play of the day." and couponing all-stars like elizabeth vargas reveal their secrets. >> yeah. >> to work their way. >> use scissors. ♪ i think i'll grab me a bowl and spoon now ♪ ♪ crispy flakes calling my name ♪ ♪ i'm hungry now. ♪ ♪ who can resist those honey kissed bunches. ♪ ♪ gotta get a bowl, get me some of that yaaaaay! ♪ ♪ everybody's... ♪ imagine nutrition in perfect harmony with great taste. that's honey bunches of oats. four healthy grains come together in crispy flakes and crunchy granola bunches. honey bunches of oats. [ female announcer ] new crest complete multi-benefit plus deep clean. you feel it working, so you know you're ready for whatever the day brings. compared to ordinary toothpaste,

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here's "the play of the day." >> it's a two-fer. >> a bo-fer is a mashup between both and two-fer. >> "play of the day" number one. a utah family, waiting for santa and the reindeer. and what do they find? they find a reindeer. no. they find a buck. a full-grown buck, hanging in the bedroom. >> how did he get in?

>> i know the answer to that. he sneaked in through the basement window. >> on the table. >> he's good-natured. the family actually posed for photos with him. they waited two hours for wildlife officers to come get him out. fair to say, a memorable christmas. all right. this is the one we've been promising you. it's a follow on "the play of the day" because we cannot stop enjoying the photo of 8-month-old cooper wagner, sticking his hand in the mouth of president obama. >> go for it. there it is. >> i love how president obama -- the facial expressions. of course. >> meredith and cathy gray wagner, the parents of cooper, joining us from kailua, hawaii. good morning to both of you. i want to say, the first

christmas you two have been able to spend together asince he returned from afghanistan. and we want to wish them a happy anniversary today. >> what does it feel to have your baby sticking the hand in the president's mouth? >> what did you say? >> losing your audio. >> oh, no. >> what was it like, when you saw cooper shoving his hand in the mouth of the president? what did you think? >> i was mortified. i was so embarrassed. >> i actually didn't even see it until the president had already left. she had to tell me about it. >> how did the secret service react? >> i don't think they did. >> i don't know. >> they didn't say anything to us. no one came by and said anything. it didn't appear anybody made any movements toward us. so, i think they played it off like the president did. >> we saw the president actually say something. what did he say after cooper finally got the mouth -- the hand back out of his mouth?

>> he said -- he kind of laughed and said, you know, cooper looked up and saw a big nose and just wanted to get ahold of it. so, he played it off really well and got a good chuckle. it worked out. >> terrific stuff. again, meredith, captain greg wagner, we appreciate your time this morning. a happy anniversary from all of us at "good morning america." still to come, kate's crown jewels. we'll tell you what the duchess got. i'm phil mickelson, pro golfer. if you have painful, swollen joints, i've been in your shoes.

one day i'm on top of the world... the next i'm saying... i have this thing called psoriatic arthritis. i had some intense pain. it progressively got worse. my rheumatologist told me about enbrel. i'm surprised how quickly my symptoms have been managed. [ male announcer ] because enbrel suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether you've been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. get back to the things that matter most. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. [ male announcer ] enbrel. the #1 biologic medicine prescribed by rheumatologists. it's real milk full of calcium and vitamin d.

and tastes simply delicious. for those of us with lactose intolerance... lactaid® milk. the original 100% lactose-free milk. but to be honest, i find the omega choices overwhelming. which one is right for me? then i found new pronutrients omega-3. it's from centrum. a name i trust. it goes beyond my heart to support my brain and eyes too. and these ultra concentrated minigels are much smaller than many others. it's part of a whole new line of supplements. there's probiotic and fruit & veggie too. new pronutrients from centrum. look for your five dollar coupon in this sunday's paper.

>> live and in hd, this is an abc 7 news update. the time is 7:56 on this tuesday, december 27. virginia police officers giving tickets for a violation that is not a crime. some drivers have been hit with fines for not producing an insurance card during a traffic stop. drivers are required to have liability insurance in the state. police deaths of

involved deadly shootings in the area went higher this year. least 16 deadly tootings this year compared year.st onschannel 8 will have more this story at the top of the hour. let's look at the roads. at the springfield interchange, northbound 95 is better. was an accident last hour that blocking two lanes. as soon as it was cleared away, the delays cleared up so we are now.tter shape is a bit better than normal springfield and onto i-395 . we will take you to the beltway -- this is 395/shirlington which good up to the 14th street bridge. the leading edge of the rain approaching winchester and royal and will continue to move into town. will get to the beltway after the morning rush hour.

48 degrees will be the high temperatures today and rain will be heavy at times. this guy will clear tomorrow but it will be cooler. and windy. >> we will be back at 8:27.

♪ money, money, money must be funny ♪ ♪ in the rich man's world ah, look at that crowd outside, gathering on a brisk day here in times square. >> warmer than yesterday, don't you think? >> i do. >> i check with sam. >> it's a matter of degree. sam, tracking the forecast. coming up, all kinds of ways to save ahead. we're introducing you to the couponing all-stars who go to extremes to save on their bills. just like elizabeth revealed to us moments ago. apparently -- >> i hate that jagged edge. i'd rip them out. >> that must have driven you crazy. >> and had them in my envelopes.

categories. very telling conversation. i've grown. >> lara and i are color-coded today. >> we wanted to wake up america. >> she is in canary yellow. and i'm in pepto-bismol pink. we have great ways to save on toys. what if you could rent toys, instead of having to buy them? we'll have the latest. also, we'll tell you what you need to think about with regard to your taxes right this second. >> important step to take right now to save a lot of money. >> in the next couple of days. then, we have emeril. he's cooking up some of your favorite comfort food without the guilt. i've been guilty a lot lately, in the holidays. we're going to get through new year's. today, we enjoy emeril. let's turn again to dan harris for a look at the morning headlines. >> good morning, everybody. good morning, once again.

we're going the start with politics. with only a week left before the iowa caucuses, the republican presidential hopefuls are going negative. >> among them, they spent 63 years in congress. >> rick perry, the first to break the christmas truce, painting all of his rivals, except for mitt romney, who never served in washington, as washington insiders. newt gingrich who has railed against negative ads, is labeling romney as a massachusetts moderate that cannot be trusted to uphold conservative ideals. as the republican race rages on, president obama enjoying more support. h a new gallup poll shows more americans approve than disapprove. economists predict unemployment will drop 0.2 points to 8.4%. along those lines, we're learning about the coming

closure of 120 sears and kmart stores. sears blaming tough competition from macy's and target. we don't know which stores will be closed or how many jobs will be lost. a missing girl in indiana has been found. she was found dead, unfortunately. and a family friend is under arrest. 9-year-old allay allay ya lemon was seen. police are not discussing the cause of death or the possible motive. embers from a fireplace are being blamed for a fire in maine, killing three little 2k3wir8s and their grandparents. their mother, a new york ad executive and her friend were the only ones to survive that fire. prince philip is back home this morning. he spent four nights in the hospital getting treatment for a blocked artery. and a remarkable feat of

engineering, allowing thousands of people to take a new step forward in one of the largest cities in south america. they just unveiled this massive escalator, scaling the hillside, to that city's poorest neighborhood. before this was built, people had to climb stairs equivalent of a 30-story building to reach their homes. hell hath no fury like a female packer fan scorn. this young lady obtained two tickets to the game. she apparently planned to take her boyfriend. then, she found out he was cheating. as the sign said, she went to a game. little bit of a prediction, i don't think this relationship's going to last. >> he could buy her season tickets and maybe make it up to her. flowers. >> the ex on there.

i don't think it's going anywhere. >> i would agree. >> funny story. >> thank you, dan. >> pleasure. all right, guys. we begin with "pop news." and kate's christmas carats. not the kind we left out for santa's reindeer. it seems that the world was so taken by the plum hat and coat that kate was wearing, we almost missed the sparkly stunners on kate's ear. royal watchers are speculating that the 18 carat gold would run around $3,000 were a gift from prince william. speaking of william, we have pictures of the sporty guy playing a hardcore game of soccer. or football in england, near his grandmother's country estates. the 29-year-old future king played with locals and state workers. and he won, 4-2. next up, if lady gaga is looking amish-inspired, we may

know why. the pop star is reportedly looking to buy a house in dutch country. her boyfriend, actor taylor kinney is from the area. if she's looking for a place to get away from it all and blend in, we're not sure how this is going to work. but it's beautiful countryside, indeed. and one of rock 'n' roll's longest running feuds is over. van halen's original lead singer, david lee roth, will reunite with alex and jimmy for a tour in 2012. they're reported to be working on their first new album together in 30 years. >> so, they tried this once. and it really -- it fell apart quickly. let's hope the second time's a charm. i'm with you. right, dan? >> i feel like if they bring

back the mullet, it will work. >> oh, please. oh, please. the mullet has been buried. it's dead. >> bring it back. >> i don't think it's physically possible. if you know what i mean. >> oh, there is that. >> i don't know what you mean. >> i don't know what you mean. not at all. a final story. i have one. you had that cool sign. check out this one. we dare you not to smile, along with bailey, the golden retriever. whatever you do, don't stop the music. check out what i mean. [ laughter ] ♪ >> hasn't stopped it yet. >> there he goes. >> is that for real? >> that's for real. >> wow. >> over 1 million people have smiled at the youtube video made by a university of connecticut student, who was playing guitar.

and he noticed bailey enjoying the jam session. and was not happy when it ended. let's get it outside for a look at the weather. and sam champion. oh, sam? >> good morning, guys. just watching you through the windows as folks can do. here's a good idea. lenay, nice to meet you. you decided to have a family reunion right here at "gma." who is with you? >> my parents from north dakota. and my sister, laura, from colorado. >> you don't get a chance to see each other a lot. so, meeting at "gma" is a great thing. >> yes, sir. >> welcome back. welcome home. and let's get to the boards. we're going to start with the picture out of atlanta for you. we have some showery weather pulling out of atlanta. you're right on the edge of severe storms today. i wouldn't get too concerned about you getting storms. savannah does. jackson does. charleston. here's the concern. in that area next to the

coastline, there could be a tornado that pops up. stay with your local 43 degrees in the district, the upper 40's later today. the leading edge of the rain is moving into winchester and culpeper and front royal and front -- move to the ne. we will have widespread rain morning rush hour, and ending around time. skies for tomorrow and wendy. >> so, are you staying here, all the way through new year's? are you going to stand right here? >> no. >> you're going to do other stuff, too? >> yes, i am. >> where are you from? >> pensacola, florida. >> we're glad you're here. lara? >> thanks, sam. here's what's coming up on our "gma morning menu."

they're the couponing all-stars. the real winner in this is you when they reveal their coupon-clipping secrets. and why buy when you can runt? we'll show you the new way parents are saving a bundle when it comes to kids' toys. plus, last-minute tax strategy. what you can do to avoid taking a hit on april 15th. you don't want to miss that, coming up on "gma." ♪

[ male announcer ] it's easy to see what subaru owners care about. ♪ that's why we created the share the love event. get a great deal on a new subaru and 250 dollars goes to your choice of five charities. ♪ with your help, we can reach 20 million dollars by the end of this, our fourth year. [ female announcer ] get 0 percent apr financing on select models for thirty-six months and we'll donate two-hundred and fifty dollars to your choice of five charities. now through january 3rd. it attends wrap parties... with the crew. there's nothing like the taste of the big mac snack wrap. but hurry. it has places to be. ♪ nyqui tylenol: me, too. and cougnasal congestion.ers?e. nyquil:what? tissue box (whispering): he said nasal congestion... nyquil: i heard him. anncr vo: tylenol cold multi-symptom nighttime relieves nasal congestion... nyquil cold & flu doesn't.

mom, mr. and mrs. bradley got netflix! netflix? it's this cool service that lets you watch unlimited movies and tv episodes instantly. yeah, you can watch netflix on your pc or on your tv through a game console

or other devices connected to the internet. whoa, that's speedy! and netflix is only eight bucks a month! pretty cool. let's tell dad. dad! we're getting netflix! dad! we're getting netflix! super... man, i got to lay off the chestnuts. [ mom ] start your free trial today. but there are foods that i had no idea had so much acid in them. my dentist said that the acid in fruit, or fruit juice or fruit teas softens the enamel so that then it can potentially erode. once that enamel is gone, it's gone. my dentist recommended that i use pronamel to help harden that enamel so that it's not brushed away. pronamel protects your teeth from the effects of acid erosion. i don't have to cut out the things that i love in my diet. i can have the best of b both worlds with proname.

these days, saving money is more than just a necessity. it is a full-on competitive sport. a true pro knows how to get through the checkout line without spending a dime. and if you want to learn how to score the deepest discounts, you should check out "extreme couponing" on tlc, where the best of the best go head-to-head for top honors and the biggest savings. bianna golodryga is here with a sneak peek. i love this show. >> reporter: are you ready to be amazed? >> oh, yeah. >> reporter: dazzled? >> bring it. >> reporter: who will reign coupon king or queen? over the next few weeks, we'll see some of the highlights and some of the sabres from the original couponing series, compete head-to-head in the semifinals. you're about to see two different couponers with different strategies. each packed with valuable saving lessons that can teach you how to go to the store.

meet two of tlc's extreme couponing all-stars. michelle wagner from missouri. she lives on coupons and her own land. >> i can take down a 185-pound deer. i don't think you can beat me. >> reporter: and chris duff, from outside pittsburgh, pennsylvania. >> if you run around ragged, you'll be tired and not going to finish. >> reporter: the duo were pitted against each other to see who was the best at saving dollars with coupons. first, the rules. each team has 30 minutes on the clock to gather all their groceries. the carts must have at least 15 different items. and no preordering more than three on the list. in addition, the teams are allowed to prep. >> first thing you're going to pick up? >> razor. >> how many are coming back. >> there's six. >> what aisle is the hot -- >> what aisle are the protein bars in? >> six.

>> let's go. >> reporter: there's one thing these shoppers are armed with. >> the strategy for my shop is going to be keep a good, even pace. >> reporter: chris duff, a ministry student, clips coupons with his wife every wednesday. they spend about an hour thumbing through inserts and circulars. >> these are a dollar. >> reporter: how can you get some of their savings? listen up to these tips. number one, do not hand over all of your coupons at once. >> it's not a matter of trust. it's a matter of human error. if i hand someone $100 of coupons, and one of the coupons is sticking together, i have to pay for that. >> reporter: number two, the internet is your friend. >> there's hidden deals out there, that you wouldn't know, unless you went on the website. also, using facebook. liking the manufacturer's website, click like.

and they allow you to print off high-value coupons. >> reporter: number three, travel and trial sizes are very different. but the savings can be just as big. >> the trial size is tiny. the travel size is small. and you have the full size. if the coupon says not valid on trial size, you can use them on travel size. >> reporter: now, back to the competition. shoppers, are you ready? >> get your cart. >> we'll start in three, two, one. >> let's go, go, go. go, go, go. >> reporter: chris' philosophy of slow and steady wins the race. but can he beat a ticking clock? >> he's not even running. he's walking. >> reporter: michelle looks like she's done shopping in less than ten minutes. where are all of the items? if she doesn't get them to checkout in time, she's going to be disqualified. >> i have to get the preordered

stuff. >> reporter: chris gets his preorder items first. >> it makes it a dollar. they're all free. >> reporter: he gets to the checkout with a few minutes left. while going through his checklist, realized his preordered items are not there. and the clock is ticking. chris and michelle are ready to measure their carts against the register. so, who will come out on top? >> this is it. >> i think i'm ready to stop the clock. >> reporter: i'm exhausted watching it. >> i know. >> reporter: they are fierce. to give you an idea the pedigree of the contestants, chris saves 100% of his $1,178 purchase. in the second season, he saved 100% of the $1,735 purchase he made. he's amazing. michelle didn't do quite so well. the bill came to $857. she only paid 484 bucks. >> $4.84.

>> amazing. >> i love this show. >> all of the proceeds, all of the food going to a food bank. it goes to a good cause. >> i like going to the manufacturer website. "extreme couponing all-stars" tonight on tlc. we're watching, elizabeth, right? >> you guys put me to shame. there's another way to save big on your kids' toys that may be welcome news for a lot of parents like us. abc's becky worley is back with us, via skype this morning, with a new toy rental service that can keep the kids entertained. >> reporter: good morning. it's two days after christmas. my kids haven't squabbled. they say please and thank you. and it's all because of new toys for christmas. who wouldn't want that feeling to last all year long? ♪

toys at christmas. joy. [ screaming ] >> reporter: excitement. [ screaming ] >> reporter: something brand-new to play with. >> t-rex. >> reporter: then, those shiny objects start to dull. tag still on it. yikes. i have whole tubs of toys that my kids just don't want to play with anymore. but if christmas came more than just once a year. you must be santa's helper? nicki is the founder of toys-a-roo, which bills itself -- >> we are the website of toys. >> reporter: moms and dad subscribe. and they get toys shipped to their home. according to the toy association, parents spend an average of $22 billion a year on toys. some parents try to sell toys on

ebay. the hassle and relatively low retail value are inhibitor. when it comes to find a bargain on toys, some hunt garage sales. or shell up and get the new toys. nicki says toy toygaroo. >> we see savings of $1,800. boxes ship out as often as six times a year. lori denman uses toygaroo for her daughter. >> she loves it. it's like her getting a present every time a new box comes. she has a present or a new box of toys that she gets so excited to open up. >> reporter: toygaroo employees, pack, reassemble and sanitize them. >> we've had no complaints so far. >> reporter: aimed at kids 1 to 7, they mail out puzzles, learning tablets and -- buzz

lightyear. and this year, these like-new toys may be the best option for families stretching a dollar as far as their children's love of play. right now, toygaroo is a pretty small operation. but nicki was a contestant on the tv show "shark tank," and got kevin o'leary and mark cuban to invest in her company. so, they are poised to go big. >> we know how often the toys go out the window after a month or so. that's a great idea. becky, thanks so much. josh? the fun part of the season. somewhat less exciting, the end of the tax year. mellody hobson, president of ariel investments is here to tell you about all of the things you can do right to make april 15th that much less painful for the long run. it might make next new year's party that much more fun. let's get right into it.

let's start with the year that's now ending. is there any tax relief we should be looking for particularly in this year? >> yes. there's one that's expiring at the end of this year. it was put on the books in 2004. it says that you can deduct your state and local sales tax, or your state and local income tax, but not both. this is particularly of interest to people who live in tax-free states. if you think that you're going to make a big purchase and you live in one of those states, you want to make it before the end of the year so you can deduct that sales tax. >> all right. get it done. what about a tax tip that people frequently miss out on. where should we be paying attention? >> this is my favorite one. you can shore up your retirement and saving on your taxes by putting more money into your 401(k) plan by the end of this year. it's very simple. the more you put in, the lower your tax bill because you're putting in pretax dollars. if your company matches in any way, it's even better.

that one is simple and easy to do. >> so many homeowners are feeling that pinch right now. is there a tip for them to save some money? to save one side or the other? >> yes. i have two tips. if you're going to pay your mortgage when you pay it, and you normally pay it on january 1st, pay it one day early, so you can get the interest tax deduction in 2011, instead of 2012. just move the payment by one day. and make sure the check is dated december 31st. and that will help your tax bill this year. the other thing, if you're thinking of making any kind of home improvement, related to energy inefficiency, do it before december 31st. if you were thinking of a new water heater or boiler, you can deduct 110% of that cost, up to $500, as long as you do it before december 31st. >> get out there and do it

before december 31st. maybe get paid a little after. i want to ask you. a lot of my friends are still dealing with their student loans. higher education. students are feeling it so much this time of year. is there anything they can do to offset some of the debt they're carrying? >> this is a big one. and it's often missed. that is, you can deduct up to $4,000. it's called the tuition and fees deduction. if you're a couple filing together and you make less than $130,000 a year, or an individual filing alone, and you make $65,000 a year or less, you can deduct up to $4,000 for tuition and fees. there's other deductions you can get if you make more money. but they're not as rich as that $4,000 deduction. while i'm on the subject of education, if you're a teacher and buying supplies for your classroom, many teachers don't know you can deduct up to $250 that you spend on supplies by the end of this year. >> so many teachers are doing just that these days. quickly, mellody, it's fair to

call charitable contributions the gifts that give back come tax time. >> yes. this is a great one. it's a big one. a lot of people are in need. that's the charitable deductions. if you make a contribution, you need to make it by december 31st. >> give now. donate now. pay now and maybe get paid a bit later. mellody hobson, thanks, as always, for all the tips. >> thanks. >> that was a nice, little tax tip segment. >> indeed, it was. who have you got there? >> my little buddy. hello, sweetheart. what have we got coming up? >> we have judith light here, talking about her new role on broadway. people like her more than the cat likes you. >> oh, stop. look at that. more of these adorable animals, straight ahead. your best pet products of the year. you're going nowhere.

>> live and in hd, this is an abc 7 news update. at 8:27.orning the d.c. medical marijuana program is a step closer to getting going. the city is getting prepared to contact people who are grow ande andd to dispense the drug. 3 republican candidates are beginning bus tours and i well before the state caucus. newt gingrich's on top in ohio 26% and mitt romney close behind at 23%. newschannel 8 loudoun in that report in a few minutes. let's check on the roads. pretty good right

now. beltway that silver spring. there are no delays all the way to georgia avenue and to the american legion bridge. in virginia across the 14th street bridge, i-395 looks like all the way up from springfield past the exit for glebe road. getting heavy again in springfield. accident on the 95.ulder before iran is not here yet. they will move in around the -- the after the commute yet.is not here 43 degrees in the district and a in winchester.er 48 will be a high and there will heavy rainte to through the afternoon and clearing skies tonight. will be windy and cooler

tomorrow. >> we will be back at 8:56.

♪ party rock is in the house tonight ♪ [ cheers and applause ] as you can see, this is the place to be. we're counting down to the biggest party of the year. four days until this whole place is filled with people, confetti, smiling faces. that ball drops. and ushers in 2012. good morning to you. as you can see, george and robin, enjoying well-deserved time off. again, we're joined by elizabeth vargas and dan harris. >> enthusiastic crowd out here. we're surrounded by animals in the studio this morning. they're here to test out the best products of the year. we've been playing with all the cats and puppies. >> indeed, we have. and judith light is going to be joining us live in the studio.

we're going to talk to her in a few seconds. also coming up, what may be a contradiction in terms. comfort food that's actually good for you. emeril is here. >> that is a contradiction. also, again, we can't remind you enough. we're closing in on our goal of collecting 1 million coats. it's the warm coats, warm hearts drive. we're asking you to donate any coat. when you do, we want you to take a photo of yourself. tweet it to us, using the hash tag, warm coats. and you might see yourself right here on "good morning america." >> that's right. we have two, special pictures of children who have received coats that our viewers donated. these girls are from a boys and girls club in springfield, missouri. about 250 children showed up and got coats. here is victoria hayes, a

resident at cornerstone outreach. it's a wonderful way to see you generosity make a difference in somebody's life. >> 1 million. we're getting close. every coat counts. let's head back inside and lara. >> every coat counts. very important to us all, america's favorite veterinarian, marty becker, gives us great advice on our four. legged friends. every year, he polls the top professionals in the vet and pet field to get the best products. this year, marty's going to give us the top six. these are fun finds, starting with this fish tank. >> this is a sistine chapel. this is living art by aqua vista. it's for people that don't have the size or the space for an ordinary aquarium. there's different sizes. eight to ten fish in here. all programmable. it is easy to take care of. and it has removable frames

here. a little more pop art. yeah. >> it's not inexpensive. >> $299. it's reasonable. >> for a fish tank? >> it really is a beautiful -- it looks like a child's toy. i didn't realize it was real until i got close. >> it's really well. >> coming up next, tell me about this situation. >> one out of two dogs is overweight or obese. we're going to show you a demonstration here. what i like about this thing, it's like a fishing pole. this has a toy on the end. a bungee squirrel with ergonomic handle. if you live in an apartment, it's snowing outside, you can get these dogs exhausted in just 30 seconds to 3 minutes. you can get a dog completely exhausted. >> stay over there. how is that? no? yeah? >> come on, lowell. two squeakers in it. >> i love that. that's historical. >> any dog inside an apartment, on a yard, on a walk.

>> he's overwhelmed. >> one out of two dogs are overweight in the united states. want to give them a treat. >> yep. >> i love this. this is a treat. it comes in bacon, liver and chicken. >> it's called the lickety -- >> lickety stik. you shake it up. you twist it off. there's a little plunger here. they lick this. right there. ten licks, one calorie. this happens to be chicken. >> he might like it. but it stinks. >> that's a smell they like. and you always want to have a flush toy for your dog. normally when you push the squeaker, it makes that sound. this squeaker, there's no sound. the dog docks his head. this is the hear doggy. it's like going -- there's no sound coming out. >> dogs have that supersonic hearing. >> 28 kilohertz. >> what's her name?

>> this is melody. >> melly likes both of these. >> she's a maltese-yorkie cross. >> and something for the cat lover. >> as a veterinarian, cats are chronically dehydrated. it holds two liters of water. it's cooler. it's filtered through foam and charco charcoal. but cats lay the water in their mouth. the way they take this water up, it's contained here. and also, it only uses four watts of energy. very energy-efficient. cats that are better hydrated are healthier. >> happier cats. >> good for a small dog or cat. >> how much on this? >> $50. >> you want the lickety stik. i'll bring it with me. this is for the cat lover that really loves their pet. >> can you imagine a cat owner that says, i don't have a scratching post. i have the enchanted forest.

you see the cats just playing here. it's a solid wood frame. it has carpet. and it had padded fur here. a scratching area here. they can go up a door and come out any of the little holes. you see how much fun they're having with this little fantasy forest. >> what is that? it's like a duplex condo. >> cats are prey and predator. they like to get up high. if they're in the prey mode, they want to get up high. and predator mode, they like to be in the nice sun. >> and give me the price real quick. we have to go. >> this is about $299. >> $299. these are the top six treats of the year for your beloved pet. if you guys love these guys, lowell's over there, the cats all available, at humane society of new york. you can find out information on them. you can find out information on our products. the lickety stik is the product of the year. we'll give you details on goodmorningamerica.com on yahoo! now, we go out to sam. >> i know.

>> hey, guys. i want to show you -- >> yeah. >> emily, eva, kayla. a homemade sign for us. emily, you wanted to see the show, right? >> yeah. >> you make this great sign for us. and all that's beautiful. you know i'm going to say it, right? aw. the sign. okay. this is -- this little one. >> are you having a good time? she's shy. hi. can you say hi? >> hi. >> let's get to the boards. here's what's going on this morning. you send us your twitter and facebook pictures. we're throwing it on the air. we have great sunset and sunrise shots. right in times square, where you're standing, you're fine until this afternoon. i would time it to be 4:00 or

6:00, when the showers start through the area. then, they work their way north. and there's a snowy edge on this. buffalo, you'll get snow. three inches so far in december? not very much snow f in the district the rangeading end of is heading into virginia. it will move in in the next hours with rain that will be heavy at times tapering off this evening. if it will be >> all that weather was brought to you -- aw. >> can you say hi? >> hi. >> oh. i could listen to that on an endless loop. coming up, judith light, coming

the invedibly versatile actress, judith light, has done it again. you may remember her as angela

from "who's the boss." she is starring in the play, "other desert cities" a family drama that takes place over christmas. and critics are raving about her performance. i want to read you some of the reviews. miss light dares to be lovable. four stars out of four. an impeccable cast at the top of its game. a broadway gem. that's pretty fantastic. >> that's really great. i don't read the reviews. my managers read them and tell me if i can relax. >> you don't like to? >> i don't like to. if you read the good ones and you believe those, you have to read the bad ones and believe those. i stay centered. they tell me about it. i don't get involved. thank you for doing that. fabulous. >> as we said, in this show, you play a recovering alcoholic, just out of rehab, visiting her sister and brother-in-law and nieces and nephews.

we have a clip of you and stockard channing, illustrating a bitter and -- >> lovable. >> and funny relationship. let's look at the clip. >> you like what i'm wearing. >> i do. the quote/unquote gucci you're wearing? >> don't start with me. there was a sale. i had to fight off three old vultures for this gucci. >> that gucci was made in a basement in rangoon, please. all of the knockoff dresses. you're not fooling anybody, really. >> this gucci is quite, quite real. >> darling, i know when i'm being played. i know what's real and what isn't? >> they don't have fake annulments. >> they have arrangeals, for $14.95. >> there's a big, dramatic secret that forces the show. >> yes. >> you have to pay attention to what's happening on stage. >> what's amazing to me about

this play. jon robin baitz wrote this story. and they worked together for many years. and in this play, it starts off very funny. and people think it's going to go in that direction. and then, what happens, over time, these secrets begin to get revealed. and you find out this beach ball that the family has been holding under the water, trying to. >> wondering the whole show. you don't find out until the end. that's a big secret. i'm not going to reveal it here. >> thank you so much. >> people will come and see it. you're playing a recovering alcoholic. to prepare for the role, you spent some time in rehab. >> i did. >> what was it like? >> i didn't stay over in rehab. but i went over to the hospital. they have -- there was a wonderful man named paul rinaldi. he's a therapist. he took me through their rehab program. the addiction treatment program at roosevelt hospital. it was extremely helpful.

and i have good friends that were kind enough to take me to their aa meetings. i did a lot of work and a lot of research on that. and i read dustin burrough's book, "dry." >> you see your character sniffing at a tumbler of whisky, wishing she could have a drink. >> i think it's interesting. it doesn't have to be alcohol that's your addiction that helps you relate to something. in one way or another, in our society, there's many addictions. that's why people relate to her and her struggle to overcome and get herself to another level. >> among the people giving you a standing ovation one night in the audience, you could hear laughter from one of your old co-stars. >> my tony. >> tony danza. you're still close. >> he's been so supportive. so wonderful. and he's so incredibly talented. and i just adore him. we've been friends for a long

time. >> we were talking about the rigors being on broadway. how many shows do you do a week? >> we do it eight times a week. >> how do you do that? how exhausted you must be. >> it is exhausting. and the way that joel has directed it, you have to settle the emotions. i have four wonderful people that i'm working with. i have stockard channing and stacy keach, and thomas who is coming back. and i have a lot of help. i saw hugh jackman last night. >> okay. >> and my manager said to me, that's how you do it? how he does it. >> judith light, a great show. on until march at least. thanks so much for being with us. >> lovely to see you. coming 

if you made a resolution to eat more healthily in 2012, we

can help you with a new you, new year challenge. while your eat your favorite comfort foods, thanks in part to emeril. he's here. show us a good couple healthy recipes. i know one-pot cooking is a big part of what you try to do. so, we have chicken in a pot. >> we have chicken in a pot. i'm also going to show you acorn squash and apples. >> okay. >> and a wonderful vegetable soup. whatever vegetables you can get. we'll talk about that in a second. we'll get a fryer chicken. with a little bit of twine, you want to tie it. >> how easy is that? >> it's easy. like tying your shoes. >> okay. >> we'll take a little bit of pepper. sprinkle it all over, real good. i like a lot. salt, sea salt, kosher salt. okay? >> okay. >> now, chicken. >> get right in there. >> we're going to get right here.

and in the pot it goes. >> oh, yeah. >> you see what i did. i rendered some bacon first. >> that's what was here on the bottom. >> that's what is in the bottom. what we want to do is sere this. we're searing the bottom. then, we want to get the topside. >> how long? >> two minutes a side. get nice color in there. we take the chicken out of the pot. now, what i'm going to do is add it to a slow cooker. that's just a chicken. >> okay. >> now, to the bacon that we rendered. >> we really smell that. >> we're going to add some carrots, celery, little onion and garlic clove. we're going to cook this for four minutes. >> that's with the bacon on the bottom. >> right. now, what we're going to do is this. we have the bacon we rendered. we're going to put this inside here. >> don't be shy. >> come on, baby. we're going to add half a cup of wine. you can use broth if you don't want to use wine.

a little bit of thyme. that's dry thyme. now, what we're going to do is take these vegetables. and we're going to add these vegetables. >> they've been sauteing for about how long? >> four or five minutes. not long because what's going to happen, in the slow cooker, we're going to program it for about four hours. >> okay. >> that's the great thing. this is not a crock pot. this is a slow cooker. you can program it high. or you can prom it low. again, if you don't want to use wine, you can use chicken broth. >> all right. >> we're going to let that simmer. >> and walk away. >> simmer and walk away. go do your thing. >> i can do that. i can walk away. >> you can do it. >> i can do that. >> now, this is what it looks like. check this out. >> oh, wow. >> see that? >> nice and tender. >> that's beautiful. >> falling off the bones. >> is that how you know when it's done, when it's falling off the bone like that? >> i'll show you what i did. beside the onion and garlic cloves, i added little potatoes.

>> again when we added everything else? >> exactly. check this out. that's chicken in a pot. a little bit of chicken. while you're doing that, let me talk to folks at home. >> okay. >> about -- look at this. vegetable soup. whatever vegetables you have. nice and steamy. nice and hot. look at that. >> oh, wow. >> and then, i have acorn squash that we've cut and cubed. >> okay. >> and just basically braised with apples and cinnamon and a little chicken broth or a little water. great side vegetable. i'm going to give you a little secret. >> okay. >> you like cauliflower? >> not really. >> i could make you a cauliflower fan. >> let's make cauliflower. >> we could simmer a whole head of that in chicken broth until it's fork. tender. after it's fork-tender, you roast it. and you put a little parmesan cheese in there. >> sounds delicious.

>> they can get the recipes. >> goodmorningamerica.com at yahoo! you can get all of emeril's goodness there. he'll make you a cauliflower believer, as well. >> chicken in a pot. >> thank you. happy, happy. >> happy, happy.

[ cheers and applause ]

>> live and in hd, this is an abc 7 news update. good morning @ 8:56.

reviewing will be held tonight for a u.s. park police ofas your died in the line duty. place of the church burke.vity in the funeral will be held tomorrow. died december 16 while of anding to reports person nearnjured the key bridge. search is intensifying for a who visited our area and then disappeared. is 33-year-old and is blind and was last seen station as he was about board an amtrak train to alabama. passenger said once on board, amtrak workers told him had to train -- change planes charlotte and there have been of 10 cents. in on the roads. good morning, it has been a good commute this morning generally. here we are at the american legion bridge. of pavement and many cars. we are looking good on the inner loop of the beltway.

270 near montrose road is a you head downas frederick county through county to the orlin divide. northbound 95, springfield had clearedlier incidents have cleared up with it. are still dealing with rain out there especially up the 81 corridor. 43 degrees in the district, on 40's ando the upper heavy at timese the afternoon and taper off to marc itevening will be gusty and cooler. >> thanks for watching and we will be back at noon. "live! with kelly" is next.